May 14, 2011

Box Score: Game 1
Box Score: Game 2

VALPARAISO, Ind. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team scored the final six runs of the contest to overcome a seventh-inning deficit and defeat Valparaiso University, 7-3, in game two of a doubleheader Saturday at Emory G. Bauer Field. The Panthers (24-23, 13-8 Horizon League) completed the sweep of the Crusaders (21-28, 13-8 Horizon League) on the day after winning game one by the identical 7-3 score.

"That was a big day for us," Milwaukee head coach Scott Doffek said. "It was great to see us come back on a team. We have had that happen to us a few times this year, so it was good to be on the other end of it. Everyone is kind of compressed at the top of the standings and we pretty much need to win every game to have a chance."

Senior Jayme Sukowaty (3-2) earned the victory, pitching the final 3.0 innings without allowing a hit. Sophomore Jonathan Capasso went 3-for-4 and senior Cole Kraft had two hits, including a home run, to lead the offense.

"Suko did a great job and held them at bay," Doffek said. "He came into the game down, 2-1, with two runners on and nobody out and held them to just a run. But then we came into the dugout down just 3-1 instead of letting that inning get away from us. He gave us a chance to win the ballgame and from there was phenomenal."

Down, 3-1, in the seventh inning, UWM took the lead with a three-run rally. Two infield singles and a hit batter loaded the bases with nobody out. The Panthers would add a run on a wild pitch and tie the game on an RBI-groundout. A fielding error then helped Milwaukee go ahead, 4-3.

An inning later, Milwaukee would put the game away. Capasso singled, went to second on a wild pitch and to third on a ground out. Senior Chad Pierce followed with a well-executed suicide squeeze bunt to plate an important insurance run. Following a two-out double by junior Mark Strey, Kraft iced it with his second home run of the season, a two-run shot deep over the right field fence.

"We put together some good at bats, some good two-strike at bats," Doffek said. "We didn't necessarily sting the ball, but when you put it in play, good things happen. We executed a squeeze late in the game and just the emotion of a play like that is lifting."

The Panthers owned the hit column, 12-to-5, in game two, with senior Doug Dekoning (2-for-5), freshman Sam Koenig (2-for-4) and Strey (2-for-4) all helping out the offense. Sophomore Eric Semmelhack started and pitched well, allowing two earned runs in 5.0 innings of work.

In the opener, Pierce (6-3) threw his third complete game of the season in Milwaukee's 7-3 victory. After a rough first inning, he settled down and allowed just one unearned run the rest of the way. He walked two and struck out four, giving up nine hits.

"It wasn't the greatest day to pitch - cold, misting, windy - but that's what he (Pierce) does, he battles," Doffek said. "He's just always going to battle until the umpire tells him the game is over. He gave us a chance and we came up with some more two-out hits."

Offensively, every starter had at least one hit, with Kraft leading the way with three hits and three runs batted in. Capasso was 2-for-3 with his third home run of the season, while freshman Tell Taylor (2-for-5) and junior Paul Hoenecke (2-for-4) each added multi-hit efforts.

The Panthers jumped up, 1-0, on an RBI-single from Hoenecke in the first, only to see the Crusaders get to Pierce for a 2-1 lead in their half, plating the pair of runs on three hits.

A four-run third inning gave UWM control of the contest. After a leadoff walk and an error, Capasso legged out an infield single to first to load the bases. Next, a comebacker to the pitcher turned into an RBI ground out, scored 1-2-3, when the throw pulled the catcher off the plate. Another infield single, this time by freshman Ryan Solberg, plated another. Kraft followed an out later with a clutch two-out single to right that made it 5-2 at the time.

"That put the momentum in our dugout for the game and it felt like it did for the doubleheader," Doffek said. "Two-out hits, they are emotional. It was good to see. We had some real good at bats up and down the lineup today."

Valpo got one back in the fourth, but Capasso's home run leading off the fifth and another RBI-single from Kraft pushed the lead to 7-3 and closed out the scoring.

The Panthers wrap up this key weekend of league play with two games at Butler tomorrow. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 11 a.m. CST. With the sweep of Valpo and Wright State splitting with Cleveland State, the top of the league standings could not be closer. Wright State is currently first at 14-6 while UIC is second at 13-7. Both the Panthers and Crusaders are just a half-game behind them at 13-8, with Butler in fifth at 9-12.